Carrier
WEBF:
"Surely the politicians realise less ships = less operational capability = less operations."
Actually, as current trends are going, politicans (and Civil Servants) are saying that we are deployed on 2 ongoing operations which dont require aircraft carriers at all. Or many ships for that matter. Whether they are right or wrong is debatable - but that is what is being discussed at very high levels including the people holding the gold.
I suspect this is why Admiral Sir Alan West has decided to have a go in public. I have posted this before and it may be controversial (it may even be wrong) but there is a mode of thought backed by many that aircraft carriers have not had a decisive effect since 1982. Every other operation since could have been launched without carrier launched aircraft. It has also been stated (Hoon?) that the UK will not go to war without the US again so why dont we rely on good ol' Uncle Sam.
Right or wrong, these are thoughts that are being voiced openly by grown-ups.